USC women’s basketball team beat Seton Hall in day two of Acrisure Series
USC's sixth-ranked women's basketball team beat Seton Hall Wednesday afternoon at Acrisure Arena on the second day of what organizers bill as the nation's largest collection of college basketball multiple-team events.
Star guard JuJu Watkins scored 20 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Lady Trojans to a blowout victory, 84-51.
College basketball star Juju Watkins and @USCWBB head coach Lindsay Gottlieb following the Lady Trojans' win in the @AcrisureSeries. @KESQ @AcrisureArena pic.twitter.com/m0y8plYXZ5
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) November 28, 2024
The Trojans (5-1) bounced back from a tough loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Saturday at the Galen Center, despite a game-high equaling 24 points from Watkins.
Watkins is tied for ninth in the nation, averaging 22 points per game, after finishing second as a freshman last season when she averaged 27.1 points and was a first- team All-America selection.
Juju in the house. @USCWBB @KESQ @AcrisureSeries @AcrisureArena pic.twitter.com/o1aE8xE3dw
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) November 27, 2024
Check out our coverage of day one of the Acrisure Series:
USC's men's team will play St. Mary's Thursday at 6 p.m. as part of the Acrisure Series' Acrisure Classic and either New Mexico or Arizona State Friday.
The Trojan women's team will play Saint Louis Friday at 4 p.m. in another Acrisure Holiday Invitational game.
Former USC men's basketball coach Andy Enfield will coach his eighth game for SMU when the Mustangs (5-2) face Washington State (6-1) at 6:30 p.m. in the men's championship game of Acrisure Holiday Invitational.
SMU defeated California Baptist, 79-77, Tuesday, with guard Boopie Miller breaking a tie
with a 13-foot jump shot with 2.1 seconds left after the Mustangs squandered a 16-point second-half lead.
Washington State defeated Fresno State, 84-73, Tuesday, with guard Nate Calmese leading four Cougars in double figures with 22 points.
California Baptist (4-3) will face Fresno State (3-3) in the third- place game at 9 p.m.
Michigan State (7-0) will face Vanderbilt at 1:30 p.m. in the women's Acrisure Holiday Invitational championship game.
The Spartans overcame a 12-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to defeat California, 78-72, Tuesday.
Michigan State rallies back to defeat Cal 78-72 in @AcrisureSeries tournament opener. Lady Spartans were led by senior star Julia Ayrault who had 22 pts and 9 rebs, including some big shots down the stretch. MSU improves to 7-0, while Cal falls to 6-1. @KESQ @MSU_WBasketball pic.twitter.com/g3sPLd8X5Z
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) November 26, 2024
Michigan State opened the fourth quarter by scoring 10 unanswered points, cutting the deficit to 60-58 with 6 minutes, 51 seconds to play. The Spartans took their first lead since the second quarter when Nyla Hampton's 3-point basket with 3:59 left put them ahead 67-66. Julia Ayrault completed the 9-1 run with a jump shot to increase the Spartans' lead to 69-66 with 2:34 remaining.
After a tip-in by center Gabrielle Abigor pulled the Golden Bears within one, 69-68, with 2:18 to play, Michigan State scored the next six points and led by at least four for the rest of the game.
Ayrault scored 13 of her game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter while Theryn Hallock added 15 for Michigan State. Lulu Twidale led California (6-1) with 20.
Vanderbilt defeated Arizona, 71-60, Tuesday, with forward Khamil Pierre scoring a game-high 25 points and guard Mikayla Blakes adding 23.
Khamil Pierre's 25 points and 15 rebounds helped lead Vanderbilt to a 71-60 win over Arizona. The Lady 'Dores will face Michigan State in the championship game tomorrow. Both teams are unbeaten on the season. @KESQ @AcrisureSeries @VandyWBB pic.twitter.com/hDrw0ooKJt
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) November 26, 2024
California (6-1) beat Arizona (6-2) in the third-place game at 11 a.m.
Cal head coach Charmin Smith said Ugonne Onyiah carried her and the Lady Bears with her 25 points and 13 rebounds in their win over Arizona. @CalWBBall @KESQ @AcrisureSeries @AcrisureArena pic.twitter.com/XCK8tS55V0
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) November 27, 2024
All games will be broadcast by TruTV and streamed by Max.
The 19-game Acrisure Series will conclude Friday.
You can still get tickets at acrisurearena.com/series/. You can get a special 20% discount offer for individual tickets. One ticket is good for all games on the date of purchase.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage on the Acrisure Series.